Starc calls for pink ball Test against India in summer

Australia have won all seven day-night Tests they have played and Mitchell Starc's prowess with the pink ball has been key.

Australia paceman Mitchell Starc has never been a huge fan of the pink ball but would welcome the prospect of bowling it against India in a day-night Test over the home summer.

India declined Australia's offer to play a day-night Test during their last tour in 2018/19 but board president Sourav Ganguly said in February they had agreed to one in the upcoming four-Test series.

"I think absolutely a pink ball Test in this series against India is a great thing," left-armer Starc told reporters in a video call on Tuesday.

"The fans love it. It creates a different aspect of the contest. I think bat and ball are a lot closer together.

"India have obviously played a pink ball Test at home so they’re not completely foreign to it.

"I guess in terms of the advantage if you like, we do have a good record at home with the pink ball.

"It's no different to us going to India and they’ve got the advantage there."

Australia have won all seven day-night Tests they have played and Starc's prowess with the pink ball has been key.

Though wary of it encroaching on traditional red-ball day Tests, Starc has taken 42 wickets at an average of 19.23 with the pink ball against an average of 26.97 in all Tests.

The 30-year-old also said he was concerned the International Cricket Council's recommendation to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball when the sport returns after the coronavirus shutdown would hand batsmen a big advantage.

Bowlers needed some help to get the ball to swing if saliva was banned, he added.

"Kids aren’t going to want to be bowlers because as we saw in Australia over the last couple of years, there were some pretty flat wickets and if that ball's going straight, it’s a pretty boring contest," he said.

Starc also said that he would not have any problem if players decide to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the early stages of Australia's home season.

Australia is slated to host the T20 World Cup in October-November this year, however, it might be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might also look to schedule the Indian Premier League (IPL) in October-November if the T20 World Cup gets postponed.

"Do I have an issue with it? I don't think so. They're pre-existing contracts. There's a lot of things that would have to go into that I assume. Cricket Australia would have to clear those guys so if they're clear to go, I don't see a problem with it," cricket.com.au quoted Starc as saying.

"They're pre-existing contracts and they would have been playing anyway. There's obviously a different hurdle of domestic cricket there. It'd be an interesting decision, not one I'd have to make, so I'll let them make their decisions," he added.

Last year, Starc had decided to pull out of IPL 2020 and said that he does not have to worry about the premier T20 tournament as he does not have a contract.

"I'd consider it, I'd think about it. Obviously, it'd be right at the start of our domestic season as well so it'd be a fair bit to consider. But I don't currently have a contract, so I currently don't have to worry," Starc said.

Australian players require clearance from CA to play in domestic leagues abroad, and they are normally given permission for the IPL because it is held during the off-season.

The IPL was scheduled to start from March 29, but the tournament has been postponed indefinitely.

Australia's Pat Cummins had become the most expensive foreign player in the history of IPL after he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 15.5 crore.

David Warner (Sun Risers Hyderabad) and Steve Smith (Rajasthan Royals) were also slated to captain their respective sides in the tournament.